Cognitive Dissidents

Today on the Cognitive Dissidents Podcast, Host Bill Reel tackles the religious mechanism of faith leaders discouraging research into their faiths claims and history from outside sources. Whether that is asking a church member to not trust the internet, not trust unauthorized sources, or even asking them to disassociate from friends and family who ask […]

Today on the Cognitive Dissidents Podcast we dive into the idea of the “Illusory Effect” which is the idea that the more we repeat, hear, or recall information the more we believe what it is that is being taught. We show how this psychological phenomenon is a tool that religions utilize in getting people to […]

Today we talk about the religious mechanism of doublespeak. The idea that a religious institution benefits from seeming holding multiple contradictory perspectives at the same time. That by having multiple contradictory messages simultaneously you maintain deniable plausibility on the problematic nature of any one issue perspective. Elder Christofferson’s talk that included Amish and Mormon Shunning

Today on the Cognitive Dissidents Podcast, we discuss Jesus’ parable of the sower and the seed and the various types of soil. The idea that each ground represents the context in which we are developing and have the space and resources to accept new truth and to develop and grow.

Today on the Cognitive Dissidents Podcast we talk about when it is a good time to get out of the boat. Using Mathew chapter 14 from the new testament as our backdrop we talk about why churches or religious institutions are useful and what purpose they serve and then turn our time to understanding that […]

Today on the Cognitive Dissidents Podcast, we discuss Jesus’ parable of the sower and the seed and the various types of soil. The idea that each ground represents the context in which we are developing and have the space and resources to accept new truth and to develop and grow.

Today on the Cognitive Dissidents Podcast, we discuss “belief Persistence”. The idea that each of us even when confronted with contradictory evidence continue to hold our current beliefs making a real changing of the mind difficult.

Today we introduce a NEW PODCAST , the “Cognitive Dissidents” Podcast. Hosted by Bill Reel this podcast will tend to focus more on the psychology of religious belief and the mechanisms in place that encourage us to hold that belief. We also want to spend time placing these mechanisms in the context of cognitive […]

Testimonial

I feel like I know you, even though we’ve never communicated, because you have been a significant support in the faith journey of both my wife and my daughter. Thank you for your contribution to the dialogue, and for being a source of comfort and Community for those of us in my family undergoing a mormon faith journey.

Bryce C

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To contact Bill Reel please email him directly at ReelMormon AT GMAIL DOT COM. Your feedback, comments, and suggestions are welcome and appreciated. Thank you for Listening and may the Lord warm your shoulders.

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